This secretfraternal order, also known as Ladies of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, was originally named Ladies of Malta. In 1902, it was consolidated with the Daughters of Malta, and assumed the name "Dames of Malta." These Dames are an auxiliary to the Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta. Their governing body is known as "Zenodacia," the branches are called "Sisterhoods" and are under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Grand Commandery of the Ancient and Illustrious Order of Malta. Candidates for membership must be "white female Protestants, over sixteen years of age, not married to a Roman Catholic, able to write and speak the English language, competent to pursue some useful occupation, believers in the doctrines of the Holy Trinity as expressed in the Apostles' Creed." The "ritualistic work" of the Order unfolds "the marvelous history of its glorious past [the Order claims to be the direct descendant of the ancient Sisterhood of the Hospitallers Dames of Jerusalem] and "the deep religious significance of its institution," and glories in "the fact that it is the only Knightly Order having one Universal Password that admits to all Council Chambers around the Globe."[1]
In 1924, the membership of the Dames of Malta was 28,000. The headquarters were at 1345 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
Virginia A. Dwyer, director and deputy chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Rochester[4]
Emma, Lady Hamilton (1765-1815), awarded the Maltese Cross by Emperor Paul I of Russia for her aid to blockaded Malta. Lady Hamilton was the first English woman to be invested as a Dame of Malta [5][6][7][8]
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